Thomas t



1,636,487 July 19 192?0 T T. READ CLOSURE Filed April 24. 1924 v g'wuentoz Tamasf iea Patented July 19, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLOSURE.

Application filed April 24, 1924. Serial Nd. 708,751.

This invention relates generally to closures.

An object of this invention is to provide a closure that can be easily and quickly opened and closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide means cooperating with the closure operable to force the closure into leak-proof engagement with the receptacle or casing supporting the closure, said means clamping and holding the closure in this position.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description.

A closure such as referred to above is capable of general and widespread use, but one particular use for which the invention is particularly well adapted is as a closure for the .lilling opening of an automobile radiator. The closure or cap of an automobile radiator should fit the filling opening tightly to prevent the escape of steam and boiling water from the radiator and at the same time the closure or cap should be easily and quickly moved to open or closed positions because the closure or cap is usually too hot to be touched or handled with comfort. The closure or cap should also be held in firm engagement with. the radiator to prevent loss of the closure or cap, notwithstanding vibrations tending to loosen. such engagement.

The present invention has'all the desirable features just mentioned and is therefore particularly adapted for use as a closure for the filling opening of an automobile radiator. Accordingly, this particular use of the invention will be illustrated and described, but it is to be understood that the specific embodiment here chosen for purposes of illustration is merely typical of devices contemplated by the invention and included within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying the invention with the closure in closed position, the device being shown connected to an automobile radiator, afragment of which is shown in dotted lines,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a side view with the closure in p posit n, a d

Fig. 5 is an end view of the lever device showing it engaged with the latch.

Broadly stated, the invention comprises a casing or receptacle having an opening and provided with an abutment or shoulder, a closure member adapted to close said open ing, and means connected to the closure member movable to engage said abutment as said closure member is closed and operable to move the closure member into and hold it in closed position said means also operable to release the closure member, said means and closure member being in alinement when the closure member is closed and out of alinement when the closure member is open.

Stated more specifically, the invention comprises a casing or receptacle having an opening and provided with a shoulder or abutment, a closure member adaptedto close said opening, a lever pivotally connected to said closure member and movable to engage said shoulder or abutment as said closure member is closed, said lever operable to move the closure member from a position out of alinement with said lever to a positionin alinement with said lever, and a latch for holding said lever and closure member in alinement.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates generally a member which in the specific embodiment illustrated, is a casing, but it is to be understood that this term as used throughout the specification and claims broadly includes frames, tanks, containers, receptacles, and other similar or equivalent constructions in, general as the invention can be used equally well with all these structures. In the present instance, the casing comprises a substantially square portion 11 and a round reduced portion 12. In the embodiment illustrated, the casing is provided with a hollow interior or opening 13 and is adapted to be screwed or otherwise secured in the filling opening of an automobile radiator, the reduced round end of the casing being provided with screw threads 14 to connect with complementary threads on the auto mobile radiator.

The s uare end of the casing member 10 is provi ed with a plane surface or seat 15 adapted to receive a gasket or washer 16. Projecting from the plane surface or seat of the casing 10 is an abutment or shoulder 17, which in the present instance runs alongone side or edge of the square portion 12 of the casing 10 and has an overhanging end portion 18. A closure member 19 is pivotally connected by the hinge 20 to the casing member 10, the hinge QOextendingelong the, edge or side of the square portion of the casing opposite to the, abutment 17 so that the closure member swings toward and away from the abutment or shoulder. Closure member 15) ised-epted to close the opening 13 and in closed position, the closure member engages the gasket 16 supported on the plane survface or sent losurrounding the opening 13 of the casin men'ibcr 10.

Means have been provided for opening ztndclosingtl'ie closure n'ieinber said i'nenns hold ngv end locking the closure member n closed po'sltion. In theprcseint instance. said means con'i' girises a lever device 21 pivotelly connected at the points 22 and 28 to the closure'member 19, pivots 22 and being in zili'nement with each other. lhe exact shape and construction of the lever device 21 can differ widely within the scope or? the broad invei'itionfbut I: prefer the construction illustrated in fthe drawings. Referring to Fig. 2, it willhe 'observed that thelevcr device 21 comprises lever arms 24; and 25 and ends or arms 26 and 27 which connect or are attached to'the ends oit the lever arms Blend 25; I prefer to make the lever device of. resilient or spring; metal. and as seen in' .i 'l e 6 er" evice'is mac 0' F Zthlv d letone piece of metalybentto'form e'holiow square,

the lever device encircling and corresponding substantially to the shape ofthe closure member. The pivots 22 and 23 are located on opposite sides. respectively, of the closure member intermediate the pivoted and the .irce or swin' 'ing ends'thereol Pivots 22 and 23 are located closer to the'swingmg ede'e ot the CIOSHI'Q member tl en the pivoted edge so that the power arm of the lcveris longer than the weight arm. The lever device 21. isudaptcdto engegethe ehntmentl? as said closure memher s moved to closed posrtion' I 3 shows the position the parts take inst before the closure member is eutirely closed. In this position, the end 27 of the lever device engages the plane surface or "seat 15jof'th'e casing men iber. end 2? elso engaging "or extending "under the 'overhangingvend "18 of the shoulder 17 and closure member 19 engages andslightly compressespertof the gss'lret'lfi on the plane tirfece 15 of theorising so that thereis a slight binding or tensioning of the parts and gtheciosure member can be moved "into nu! -ms 161 egem'ent' with theigesket 16 only withnne ,t.' In thisposition of'tl'ie parts, end "26 of the 'leverldevice 21 is above *or rum nom-ne pivoted end of the closure member 19. In order to entirely close the closure member 19, the end 26 of lever device 21 is pushed downwardly or toward the closure men'rher and this movement is continued until the closure member and the lever device are in alinementwith each other, the lever device forcing and holding the closure member infirm engagement with the gasket 16 carried bythe plane surface or sent 15 of the casing member, the parts as suming the position shown in 1. It will be'scenthutthc closure member 19 and the lever device 21. comprises two members of a toggle joint so thzt when the lever device and closure member are in alinemcnt; they will stay in this position because the pivot points are at dead center but I have pro-- rided additional meuns't'or mainteining the lever device and closure member in alinement. In the present instance, such means comprises rigid studQS carried by the pivoted edge of the closure member, said stud stud to trictionally engage in the opening.

Although the :torm oi latch shown is pr ferred beceuse of its simplicity, it is obvious that it is only one of many forms which can be used and which come within oi the broad invention.

In opening the closure member, it only necessary to break the toggle joint and this is done by pulling upon and moving the end 26 ot the lever (iOVlCG'lIWZlY from the closure member 19 and if the lever device is given a quick upwerdpull viewed in the druwlugs, the closure device will .flyopcn and assume the position shown .in Fig. 4..

It will he noted that in. view of the constrr *tion and arrangement of the parts just described that in both the opening and closing; of the closure member the advantage of the '(OlIlPdl'tltlVElY long power arm (com prising the entire length of sides 24- or 2-5) of the lever device as compared to the short weight arm (the distance from the pivots or 23 to the end 27 of the lever device) gained and this same difference oflevera'fge' is used in holding the closure member in closed position. Thus'the closure member can be easily and quickly opened and closed 'v'ent'ion is not limited to "the specific construction herein illustrated and explained, but that ve-nous 1 changes -und modifications can be made Without departing from the .he scope Sll scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For instance, the closure member can be connected directly to the automobile radiator instead of being connected to an attachment adapted to be connected in the usual screw threaded filling opening of the ordinary automobile radiator.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, the con'ibination, with a casing having an opening and provided with an abutment, and a pivoted closure member adapted to close said opening, of means carried by the closure member movable to press against said abutment and to extend between said abutment and the swinging edge of said closure member, said means operable to move the closure member into and hold it in closed position.

2. A device of the class described comprising, the combination, with a'casing having an opening and provided with an abutment, and a pivoted closure member adapted to close said opening, of means carried by the closure member movable to press against said abutment as said closure member is closed and to extend between said abutment and the swinging edge of said closure member, said meansoperable to move the closure member into and hold it in closed position, said means also operable to release and open said closure member.

3. A device of the class described, comprising, the combination, with a casing having an opening and provided with an abutment, and a closure member adapted to close said opening, of means connected to the closure member inovable to engage said abutment as said closure member is closed and operable to move the closure member into and hold it in closed position, said means also operable to release the closure member, said means and closure member being in alinement when the closure member is closed and out of alinement when the closure member is open.

l. A device of the class described comprising, the combination, with a casing having an opening and provided with an abut ment, and a closure member adapted to close said opening, 01": means connected to the closure member movable to engage said abutment as said closure member is closed and operable to move the closure member into and hold it in closed position, said means also operable to release the closure member, said means and closure member being in alinement when the closure member is closed and out of alinement when the closure member is open, and means for holding said means and said closure member in alinement.

5. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a casing having an opening and provided with an abutment, and toggle members connected to said casing ineluding a closure member adapted to close said opening and a lever member movable to engage said abutment as said closure member is closed, said lever member operable to move the closure member to closed position or to open the same, said toggle members being in alinement when the closure member is in closed position.

. 6. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a casing having an opening and provided with an abutment,

toggle members connected to said casing including a closure inembc' adapted to close said opening and a lever member movable'to engage said abutment as said closure member is closed, said lever member operable to move the closure member to closed position or to open the same, said toggle members being in alinement when the closure member is in closed position, and means for bold ing said toggle members in alinement.

7. A device of the class described comprising, the combination, with a casing having an opening and provided with an abutment, and a closure member adapted to close said opening, of a lever pivotally connected to said closure member and movable to engage said abutment as said closure member is closed, said lever operable to move the closure member from a position out of alinement with said. lever to a position in alinement with said lever.

8. A device of the class described comprising, the combination, with a casing having an opening and provided with an abutment, and a closure member adapted to close said opening, or a lever pivotally connected to said closure member and movable to engage said abutment as said closure member is closed, said lever operable to move the clo sure member trom a position out oi? alinement with said lever to a position in alinement with said lever, and a latch for holdi: g said lever and closure member in alinement.

9. A device of the class described comprising, the combination, with a casing hav ing an opening and provided with. an abutment, and a closure member adapted to close said opening, of a lever device pivotally connected to said closure .mcn'iber, said lever device comprising two lever arms and a re silient arm connecting said lever arms, said lever device movable to engage said lever arms with said abutment as said closure member is closed and operable to close or open said closure member, and means can ried by the closure member engaging the resilient arm of said lever device when the closure member is closed to hold said closure member in closed position.

10. A device of the class described comprising, the combination, with a casing havproviding "a seat adjacent said opening, a gasket supported on saidseat, and aclosure n'reinbelfiadapted to close said opening, of a lever :pivotally connected to said closure member and movable to engage saidabutment as said closure member is closed, said lever operable to force said closure member against said gasket and causing said closure member to slightly compress said gasket, and a latch engaging said lever and causing it to hold said closure member in engagement with said gasket. 7

11. A device of the class described comprising, the combination, With a casing having an opening andprovided Withan abutment, and a'closure member pivotally connected to said casing and adapt-ed to close an integral piece of resilient'in'etal eneir-e with said abutment as said closure member iselosed and operable to close-or open. said closure member, and a stud carried by the closure member engaging in the opening in one of said connecting arms of said lever device when the closure member 15, closed toholdzsaid closure member inclosed pos tion.

In testimony whereof 'I hereunto afiix my signature.

L'rHo-ivms '1. HEAD. 

